Printing machine



Sept. 14, 193.7.4v D. H. WHITEHEAD PRINTING MACHINE Filed March 9, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet l 5% Lew mme Sept. 14, 1937. D. H. WHITEHEAD PRINTING MACHINE 5 sheets-sheet 2 Filed March 9, 1935 D. H. WHITEHEAD sept. 14, 1937.

PRINTING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 45 Sept. 14, 1937. D. H. WHITEHEAD PRINTING MACHINE Filed March 9, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Sept. 14, 1937. D. H. WHITEHEAD PRINTING MACHINE Filed March 9, 1935 5 Sheel',s-Shee1'I 5 UNITED STATE PATENT OFFICE PRINTING MACHINE Dean H. Whitehead, Chicago, Ill., assigner of ene-half to John R. Nalbach, Oak Park, Ill.

Application March 9, 1935, Serial No. 10,154

This invention relates printing machines.

3 Claims.

to improvements in One object of the invention is to provide a machine which is adapted for use in reproducing 5 copies of reverse masters prepared with copyable or hectograph ink, ribbons, carbon paper or the like, directly from such reverse masters or in producing copies from a hectograph surface, such as a gelatin pad; or by the use of a stencil sheet 10 or by printing directly from type, as from a stereotype plate.

A further object of the i nvention is to provide a printing machine having a flat bed which carries the master, whether the latter be a reverse master, a hectograph surface, a stencil or a chase of type or stereotype plat e, said bed being reciprocable in synchronism with a rotary drum which presses copy sheets discharges the copy sheets upon the master and into a tray.

A further object of the invention relates to the provision of automatic copy-sheet feeding means and sheet engaging mechanism which are synchronized with the moveme by the sheets of a stack are nt of the drum wheresuccessively impressed upon the master sheet carried by the reciprocable bed.

Another object of the in vention relates to the provision of compact means for moving the reciprocable bed carriage to each printing operation.

initial position after erations.

Other objects relate to various features of construction and arrangement of parts which will be apparent from a consideration of the following specification and wherein z accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a broken top plan View of a printing machine embodying the present improvements,

Figure 2 is a broken side elevation of the machine shown in Figure l,

Figure 3 is a broken detai lview of cam operated copy-sheet feeding mechanism,

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional View taken on line 4--4 of Figure 5, but showing a broken top plan of the bed,

Figure 5 is a broken end elevation of the left end machine shown in Figure 2,

vFigure 6 is a broken ver line 6 6 of Figure 2,

tical section taken on Figure 7 is an enlarged broken section taken o-n line 'l-l of Figure l,

Figure 8 is a detail view oi the rear end of the carriage or bed showing a clamp for securing the rear end of a master sheet in position on the bed,

Figure 9 is a broken side elevation of inking mechanism which is employed when type or a plate constitute the master from which copies are produced.

In the drawings I0 indicates generally the frame of a machine embodying the present irnprovements, said frame having side members ll and end members l2 and i3 both of which are of less height than the side members ll. The side members Il also are provided with uprights I4 and l5 in which is journaled the shaft I6 carrying a sectional drum indicated generally by the numeral l1. The drum Il is provided with end Walls 8, and a semicylindrical surface I3 which presses the copy sheets into contact with the master, as hereinafter described.

The side walls `Il of the frame are also provided with vertical supports 2l) and 2| upon which is secured a tray support 22 which carries an inclined tray 23 upon which a stack 24 of copy sheets are supported. The tray 23 is provided with vertical guides 25 and 23 for holding the sheets o-f paper of the stack 24 in proper alignment.

As shown in Figure 1, the guide 26 is adjustable laterally by means of slots 2l provided in the top surface of the tray 23 and held in adjusted position by means of wing nuts 28 whereby sheets of varying width can be accommodated in the machine. The tray 23 is provided with a transverse rod 29 to which are attached springsl 30 which tend to slide the tray 23 to the right as viewed in Figures 1 and 2, to maintain the upper sheet of the stack 24 in contact with the feed roller 3|.

The lower ends of the inclined sheets 24 rest on the plate 32 having a forward lip 33 at the rear of which is a sheet restraining hump 34.

The advancing edge of the semi-cylindrical surface I9 of the drum l1 is at and is turned inwardly of the circumference of the drum to form a sheet engaging surface 35, shown clearly in Figure 7.

Secured on a transverse shaft 36 which is journaled in the end walls I8 of the drum is an arm 31 provided with a cam follower roller 38 which during the rotation of the drum rolls around the outer surface of the stationary cam 39 which is secured as by fastening members 40 to the member I4, as shown clearly in Figure 6.

A pair of springs k45 secured to the interior ofir Y the cylindrical surface |9 and to the arms 4Ia of the sheet engaging ,device are shown, which tend to hold the engaging member 4| in sheet engaging position. However, as the drum |1 rotatesjin the direction of the arrow shown in Fig ure 1, the follower 38 will, when it reaches the' surface 39a of the cam 39, effect a counter-clockwise movement'ofV the shaft 36 and the sheet engaging member 4I and release the copy sheet 44` as indicated by the dotted lines in Figure '1. This movement, of course, takes place during the rotation ofY the drum and the counter-clockwise `movementmentioned is relative to the drum.

As the drum continues its rotation to move the follower 38 on to the surface 39h of` the cam 39, the sheet engaging mechanism is held in inoperative position, that is, out offcontact with the member 35. As the drum reaches the position `shown in full lines in Figure 1,V the follower 38 Y will pass over the inwardly directed cam surface 39e, whereupon the springs 45 will move -the memshaft 46 is provided `with a ratchet 48'slidab1e axially against the tension of the spring 49 as shown Y in Figure fl, said ratchet 48 being non-rotatable With respect to the shaft; Aniating ratchet 50 is also mounted on the shaft 46, and has Ysecured thereto a pinion meshing with which is arack bar 52 which is pivotally'secured as at 53 to the lower end of an arm `54 which in turn'is pivotally mounted as at 55 to the bracket Yor member I5.

The arm 54 is provided with a cam follower 56 which-rolls on, vthe outer surface of a rotary cam"51 rwhich `is secured to the Yadjacent side f wall I8. of the Vdrum I1. VThus asV the drum I1 approaches the positionshown in full lines in Figure '1, the camy surface 51a.will move the' arm 54 clockwise as viewed in Figure '1, thereby effecting the movement of the rack 52 to the left against'the action of a spring-'587, and rotate the Vfeed roller 3| in the'direction ofY thearrow to feed the upper sheet 44 of thestack into the position shown in full lines in said figure; Y u

Astheffollower 51 rides over the receding surface 51h of the cam 51'to the concentric portion 51o thereof, the spring. 58 will move they. rack bar 52 to the right as Vviewed in Figure 2, but during such movement the ratchet member 50 will click past the ratchet 48 without impartingfmovement tothe feed roller 3|.V 'I'hus the feed roller' 33|V operates only in one direction, that is Vthe direc- Ytion to feed theupper sheet ofthe stack24into k VYthe full line position shown in Figure 1, which movement takes place once during each revolu- Jtionofthe drum'l1. Y The drum ;|1 is provided with a pair of racks l Y A(5259 provided with teeth 60 which Vduring theprint'- ning of a printing cycle.V

ing operation engage teeth 6| of the bed 62 which, as clearly shown in Figure 5, is provided with longitudinal ribs or extensions 63 .which slide in grooves 64 formed in the side walls Il.

As shown in Figure 7, the racks 59 are provided with forward extensions 59a each having a'single tooth 66a arrangedto engage with the forward teeth 6|a of the bed 62, for the purpose of initiat-` ing the sliding movement of the bed at the begin- Thus the drurn |1 in moving in the direction ofthe arrow from the full line position shown in Figure 7, will move the individual teeth 60a first into engagement with the teeth 6|a and moveV the bed to the right as viewed in said figure. Before the teeth 60a rand 6Ia.V are disengaged, the following teeth of the rack bars 59 will engage the teeth 6I of the 'bed to move the latter for wardlyV the full stroke thereof. By omitting the teeth between the forward teethV 60a and the re- 4maining teeth of the rack bar, and between the teeth 6|a and the remaining teeth 6| of the frame, the smoother enmeshing of the teeth 66 and 6| is effected, as will be seen'.V

The bed 62 in the form shown carries a removable pan-like support 65 which in turn carriesV Vtion is a sheet typed in reverse characters in el Assur.

copying or hectograph ink, as in a wet process.`

duplicating machine, the forward end of V'the masterwill be secured tothe bed by a clamping bar 68 (see Figure '1).

The clamping bar 68 extends transverselyof the bed and is provided with pins 69 extending through slots 10 in the bed 62 to which pins are secured springs 1| for sliding the clamping bar 68 to the left as viewed in Figure 2.

Finger -pieces 12 may be provided by means of si which the clamping bar 68may be moved to the right as viewed in Figure 7, for releasing theV clamping barY from the end of the master 61.

YTherear end of 'the master 61 may be heldin 4position by means of` clips 13 provided'with slots 14` through which pass the wing bolts 15 which may be threaded in the rear end wall of the bed 1 62, as illustrated in Figure 8.

the top sheet 44 of the stack 24 will be drawn from the stack and into contact with the moistening roller` 11, which is rotatably kmounted in a tank 18 containing moistening vliquid 19, and

which is supported above the plane ofthe master 61 by means of suitable brackets 80.

As the drum starts its movement the forwardly Y projecting endsvla of a pair of spacers 6| which are disposed between the ends of the rack bars 59 and the ends of theV drum I1,-initiate the rotation of the moistening rollerv 11 toV assureV that the' forward portion of the lower surface of each copy sheetwill be moistened. 'I'he curved surface Illb of the extensions 8|a1contact with the roller11` and are of the Ysame curvatureras the cylindrical lwith the master `61. 1 Y f 1 A wiper 82 is provided inthe tank 16 forwipf 7'5 ing surplus moisture from Athe roller and mayfbe 'surface'l 8 of thedrum, which surface during the Y disposed between upper plate 83 and lower plate 84 which is perforated to permit absorbed moisture to drain back into the tank.

A screw 85 is provided for Varying the tension of the wiper 82 against the roller 11.

.It will thus be seen that as the top vsheet 44 of the stack 24 is engaged by the member 42, it will be pressed by the cylindrical surface |9 of the drum into contact with the moist surface of the roller 11.

As the drum continues its rotary movement the forward teeth 60a will engage the teeth Gla of the bed and start the bed on its movement to the right as viewed in Figure 7. The following teeth of the rack bar 59 will engage the teeth 6| and continue the movement of the bed during which the moistened lower surface of the copy sheet will be pressed into firm contact with the master 61. As the advancing edge of the drum approaches the dotted line position shown in Figure '1, rollers 86 carried on the shaft 81 will contact with the copy sheet on the drum and will rotate in clockwise direction.

lAs the drum reaches the dotted line position of Figure 7, the sheet holding member 42 will be moved by the cam surface 39a to the sheet releasing position shown, whereupon the sheet 44 will fall away from the drum into the tray 88. Due to the contact of the rollers 86 with the surface of the sheet and their rotation thereby, the sheets will be carried completely into the tray 88.

'Ihe tray may have an extension member 89 for accommodating sheets of different lengths. As shown in Figure 2, the shaft 81 may be held in position by means of ears 90 formed on the upper surfaces of the side members I of the frame.

As the drum continues the rotation from the dotted line position to nearly the position shown in full lines in Figure 7, the cam surface 51a.` will effect the actuation of the sheet feeding mechanism above described, and move the upper sheet of the stack 24 into the position of sheet 44.

As the member 35 vof the drum reaches the full line position shown in Figure '1, the follower 38 will have moved to the position shown in full lines in said gure, and thereby permit the springs 45 to move the sheet holding member 42 into the engaging position illustrated, to thereby carry the said sheet into printing contact with the master 61, upon continued rotation of the drum.

When the rear of the rack bars 59 have disengaged themselves from the teeth 6| of the bed, the latter will be drawn to the left, as viewed in Figure 1, by means of the spring 9|, which is attached at one end to the end |2 and at the opposite end to a yoke 92. The yoke is mounted on a shaft 93 which extends into opposite slides 94 disposed in slots 95 formed in brackets 96, the ends of which are bolted as at 91 to the side members I'he shaft 93 is provided with a pair of sheaves 98. A second shaft 99 is journaled on the opposite end of the brackets 96 and provided with another pair of sheaves |00, (see Figure 4).

A flexible cable or cord is attached at one end as to a yoke |82 secured to the shaft 98 and passes around the sheaves in the manner shown in said figure, and has its opposite end attached as at |03 to the lower surface of the bed 62. It will thus be seen that as the bed 62 is moved to the right by the drum due to the inter-engagement of the teeth 60aV and 6|a and subsequently by the teeth 60 and 6|, the spring 9| will be distended, but the extent of distension will be relatively short due to the arrangement of the cable and sheaves.

As shown in Figures 4, 5, and 6, the bed 62 is provided with openings |04 therein, within which are located eccentrics |05 which are mounted on shafts |06. Knurled wheels |01 are attached to the shafts by means of which the same can be rotated to cause the cams to elevate the member 65 as may be necessary in leveling the same, to assure of. uniform contact of the copy sheet with the master during the printing operation. The shafts may be provided with ratchets |08 (see Figures 4 and 5) in engagement with which are pawls |09 which are pivoted at points ||0 to the flange depending from the bed 62. Thus by turning either of the hand wheels |01 one side or the other of the bed can be elevated as desired, the pawls holding the leveling. mechanism in adjusted position. To release the pawls |09 from engagement with the ratchets |08, another cam ||2 mounted on a short shaft ||3 is provided which upon being turned by means of the knurled wheel ||4 will move the pawls out of engagement with the ratchets, as will be seen.

To facilitate the positioning of a master upon the bed, I have shown a spring pressed latch ||6 located in one of the frame members The bed is provided with a recess ||1 into which the plunger ||8` of the latch will be forced by the spring ||9, when the latch is released by tilting the catch |20 out of the position shown in Figure 4.

Thus by turning the handle 16 the bed can be moved forwardly and upon releasing the catch |2|, the plunger ||8 will seat in the recess ||1 and hold the bed in the forward position against the action of spring 9|. drum, being then disengaged from the teeth 6| of the rack bars of the bed, can be turned out of position while a master is being placed in position on the bed. When the master has been fixed in position, the latch 6 may be retracted and held in such position by the catch |20.

By the mechanism described it will be seen that aprinting machine has been provided which will automatically feed sheets of paper into engaging position with reference to the rotary drum, which in turn engages and moves the master carrying bed forwardly in synchronism therewith to effect a duplication of the written or printed matter carried by the master, after which the copy sheet is released from the drum and discharged into the tray 88.

The master 61, if desired, may be a stencil sheet held in position as above described with reference to the reverse master 61, in which case the removable cushion support 66 will be an ink saturated pad, whereby as the copy sheets are fed into contact with the master copies, stencil copies will be produced.

In using the device for producing the stencilV copies the moistening tank 18 will not be used, although the roller 11 may be left in place to effect the smooth contacting of the copy sheets with the drum.

It will also be seen that the cushion member 66 may be removed, and a hectograph or gelatin pad substituted therefor, upon which pad the master is produced in reverse by the usual method. 'I'he duplication of copies will be effected in the same manner as that described above.

If it is desired to use the mechanism for printing from type as from a stereotyped plate or the like, the plate is inserted in the bed 62 and adjusted to the proper elevation.

The teeth so of the l The moistening tank 'lfinthis instance will be removed by'sliding the same forwardly from the machine when the drum `Il has beenrotated to non-obstructing position. Y j Y In lieuof they moistening tank 18 an inking device illustratedin Figure 9 willjbe substituted.

. This device comprises a tank IZI holding a supply of -printers ink |22--in `which is located a roller |23.V A series of contacting ink transferring rollers `|24'are journaledin the walls of the tank` l2'l Aas shown. The lowermost Vroller |25 of the series is so Vposition'edthat it contacts with the surface of the typeor printing plate |26, to Vink the same as the bed reciprocates.

'No additional changes are otherwiserequire Yin the mechanism for making such printed copies of the master,y which in this case is the plate or typec'arried bythe bed.V Y Y U 'Int the description ofthe invention generally, and inV the` claims, `it will be understood that the master or vmaster sheet may comprisea paper sheet printed in reverse charactersin copyable or hectograph ink, or'mayA comprise Ya. hectograph or gelatin pad, or a stencil, or a chase of type or a printing plate. The'term printing has been 4used .generically as, applicableA tothe productionof copiesby any;of the v-masters mentioned. Y

Y. The provision of thefsheet conveyor rollersV whichmaybe adjusted axially of the rod orV A shaft 81 to accommodate the same to sheets of different widths, is important.' It will be seen 40 y masters that can be used Yconvenientlyior difthat due -tothe contact of the cylindrical Ysurface of the drum with the rollers 86, thercopy 'sheets continue to be conveyed forwardly into the tray 88 evenvafter the sheet engaging means 42 has been moved to releasing position, as shown in dotted lines'in Figure "7. Y

While a reciprocating bed has been specically described as preferred, becauser Vof the various ferent types of printing, it will be seen that aseoond rotary drum to carry a master maybe employedinconjunction withV and driven synchro- Y nously withA the improvedl impression drum. hav-V ing the Vpaper-feeding and pick-up or sheet enf gaging and sheet releasing mechanismabove described. Y

Such arrangement would have'the advantage of greater speed since a suitable doctor or sheet stripper can be used with the impression drum to effect the positive removal-ofthe kprintedsheets therefrom athigh speed in lieu of merely releasing the sheets from the drum, as above described.

- It will likewise beV noted that while the sheet engaging member 42 is released to discharge the sheets with the printed faces'down, the cam 39 may be so shaped that the sheetsgare carried around to a pointsubstantially diametrically op-l eifically theretoexcept as so limited by theA Vlpended claims. f z y 1 posite vthe dotted linespositioniofythe releasing mechanismlshown in Figure 'I 'Lto discharge the sheets into a trayzwith theprintedfsides up.

AWhile I haveshownv and'described the'preferred embodiment of crnyimprovements for. the purpose of illustration-I do not wish to be restrictedfspe- I claim: Y 1. A printingY machine `comprisingxa `frmnea reciprocable master-carrying bed jv mounted thereon, a segmental `rotary drumpositlione'tl above said kbed and provided ywith acylindrical surface fadapted vto press -a copy sheetfintocon- Ytact with-a'ma'ster on said bedduring'ltheprinting operation, -saidtdrum having Ythe ;adva.ncing edge ldimmed inwardly of thefpenpherai thereof, means f forY synchronizingrthe movement of said bed in one direction withthe rotarymovement of said drumduringpsaid ptinting'foperation, Ycopyesheet, engaging? means l carried by said drum,l and vprovided with gripping means disposed inwardly of the drum periphery,-andazzo-` operating with *said'edge .of vsaid drum for grip-A ping a lcopy sheet ,fedejthereto ,l and means fior,

feeding a copy sheet. automatically vtof: saidwengagingmeans ata given position of rotation ofV lsaiddrum;k Y EY 2. Afprinting machine .comprising a ireciprotion, a cam controlled sheet engaging Vmechanism carried by'said drum and provided Withsheet grippingmeans rfor securing the end` of a copyV sheet to said edge ata given rpositionof rotation ofjsaid drum, and sheet-feeding'mechanismifor `feeding `a sheet tol 'said engagingrmeans when saiddrum is in;said position;

y 3.- A machineof the" class described compris ingfa member for. carrying a master,:a rotaryse'g;V mental impression drum, a 'moisteninglroll ariV ranged for peripheral-contact withV said drum and actuatable thereby, *means on the drum;for

engaging aleopy sheet Yand moving the same into successive contact with said ,-roll and with said master, and arcuate means carried byzsaid drum fecting the moisteningof'the entireVV impression same with said master.; f

surfaceof the sheet prior to the contact of theY in advance of the impression surfaceithereoi'ior initiatingmovement lof said roll prior to contact ofthe same with a sheet to be moistened for ef- Y 

